The 2025 Red Bull season in Formula 1 has been full of ups and downs. While Max Verstappen continues to dominate on the track, his teammate, Liam Lawson, has had a disastrous start, putting his future with the Austrian team in serious doubt. With the worst start in the team’s history, rumors are growing that he could be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda as early as the Japanese Grand Prix.

The New Zealander has struggled to be competitive since the season opener. At the Chinese Grand Prix, he finished last in qualifying and could only climb to 14th in the Sprint. In Australia, he failed to get past Q1 and crashed out of the race in wet conditions. These results have set off alarm bells within Red Bull, where his immediate future is already being discussed.

Tsunoda Emerging as a Strong Contender

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko didn’t hide his disappointment with Lawson’s performances. Speaking to Sky Germany, he hinted that the driver’s seat is at risk if there’s no immediate improvement: "Formula 1 is all about performance, and in the end, that’s what matters. It was disappointing, and we need to evaluate everything." He also compared Lawson’s struggles to the stronger performances of Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls, making him a natural candidate for promotion.

Tsunoda hasn’t been shy about expressing his interest in the Red Bull seat, showing confidence that he could make the move as soon as the Japanese GP. “Me in a Red Bull car? Yeah, why not?” he told Motorsport. His numbers back up his ambition, as he has outperformed Lawson in every qualifying session and race this season.

Red Bull’s History of Ruthless Decisions

Red Bull has never hesitated to make mid-season driver changes. In 2019, Pierre Gasly was demoted to Toro Rosso to make way for Alex Albon, while in 2016, Daniil Kvyat was replaced by a young Max Verstappen. Given these precedents and Lawson’s poor form, the Japanese GP could be his last chance to prove he deserves to stay with the team. If he fails to deliver a strong result, Tsunoda could get the call to step up to the main team sooner than expected.